National History Academy's one-week summer experiences for rising 7th, 8th and 9th-grade students provide an opportunity to explore U.S. History through specific themes, driven by essential questions to guide you in your studies as you develop greater historical knowledge and understanding.
These one-week summer experience for rising 7th, 8th and 9th-grade students provide an opportunity to:
Explore history through a series of virtual site visits and presentations from historians and site content experts.Analyze and Evaluate powerful primary source texts and contemporary news articles in historical context.Share in civil discourse with peers led by teachers eager to make connections between the site visits, lectures, documents, and conversations.Connect the past to the present through current events, articles, and discussion rooted in connecting the past to the present.
SESSION 1 - JULY 5 – 9 - INNOVATION
In light of the Covid-19 vaccine, we will study the historical examples of innovation through the search for the polio vaccine, the development of the automobile, Thomas Edison’s research and development laboratory in West Orange, New Jersey, and the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site in Richmond, VA.
SESSION 2 - JULY 12 – 16 - DIPLOMACY AND LEADERSHIP
Diplomacy and leadership are important for creating and maintaining national unity. Learn how the words and actions of Dwight Eisenhower, Abraham Lincoln, and Frederick Douglass led to national unity, not only in their time, but for today. We will also explore how diplomacy at the Chamizal National Memorial is significant nationally and internationally.
SESSION 3 - JULY 19 – 23 - WE THE PEOPLE
Explore how the stories of people and places in the United States have created our nation’s identity as we explore phrases of the Constitution’s Preamble: We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, promote the general welfare, provide for the common defense and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity…
SESSION 4 - JULY 26 – 30 - POWER TO THE PEOPLE
Learn about the individuals who helped to spark change in our communities, society, and country. Students will explore women in the workforce at Rosie the Riveter National Historic Park, learn about the student activists at the Greensboro Sit-Ins, visit Stonewall in NYC to learn about the individuals who helped to improve rights for the LGBTQ community, and end our week with a visit to Cesar Chavez National Monument to learn about the role of Chavez and the UFW to improve labor conditions.
